You should be aware that
if you now operate remotely or plan to do so in the future, having a secure
connection is essential. A secure wireless connection safeguards not just your
company's information but also your personal information if you are working
with classified information. Here are some steps you may take to protect your
personal and professional information when using a wireless connection if your
company does not provide secure connections that allow you to work from home.
Make Your Network Invisible
Through "identifier
broadcasting," wireless access points can announce their presence to
computers that support wireless communication. Identifier broadcasting is
preferable in several situations. Consult your access point's user manual for
instructions on how to disable identifier broadcasting so that your network
connection is private and untraceable.
Rename Your Wireless Network
A preconfigured name or
"service set identification" is often preinstalled on many wireless
access point devices. Default names controlled by different manufacturers are
well-known and can be used to connect to your wireless network without
authorization. You should choose a name for your network when renaming it so
that other users won't be able to guess.
Encrypt Your Network Traffic
The traffic between your
wireless device and your computers should be able to be encrypted and secured.
You can only interpret wireless traffic by machines that have the precise key
to the code by encrypting it.
Change Your Administrator Password
A pre-set default
password is pre-installed on your wireless access point device. Anyone can
access your wireless network without authorization because default passwords
from different manufacturers are generally known.
Never give out any
personal information in your administrator password; always choose a complex
combination of characters that is hard to guess. Create a password and use it
to secure your device if your wireless network does not already have one.
Be Cautious with “File Sharing”
Disable this option on
your computer if you don't need to distribute files over your network. Never
share access to a whole hard drive with anyone if you are going to disclose any
information. Instead, use a strong password that contains symbols (such as #,%,
and &).
Keep Your Access Point Software Up to Date
Your wireless access
point's manufacturers eventually roll out software upgrades or bug-fixing
patches for the device. Keep in mind to constantly check the manufacturer's
website for any software updates or patches.
You can better defend your wireless home network from threats by completing the following steps.